Instructions

ZOOM IN by clicking on the page. A slider will appear, allowing you to adjust your zoom level. Return to the original size by clicking on the page again.

MOVE the page around when zoomed in by dragging it.

ADJUST the zoom using the slider on the top right.

ZOOM OUT by clicking on the zoomed-in page.

SEARCH by entering text in the search field and click on "In This Issue" or "All Issues" to search the current issue or the archive of back issues
respectively.
.

PRINT by clicking on thumbnails to select pages, and then press the
print button.

SHARE this publication and page.

ROTATE PAGE allows you to turn pages 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise.Click on the page to return to the original orientation. To zoom in on a rotated page, return the page to its original orientation, zoom in, and
then rotate it again.

CONTENTS displays a table of sections with thumbnails and descriptions.

ALL PAGES displays thumbnails of every page in the issue. Click on
a page to jump.

6 NEWS BEAT Senate passes controversial polls law after heated debate Jubilee pushes through amendment as Cord threatens mass protests against inroduction of manual backup by Mercy Mwai and James Murimi @PeopleDailyKe I want to talk to my sister ‘Nyar Ugenya’ Beth Mugo. Prob- Jubilee senators yesterday used their numerical strength in the House as well as in the joint committee mandated to collect public views, to esnure the amendments to the controversial election laws carried the day. The division vote that was taken after heated debate that split both sides down the middle, now leaves the process to go through the remaining formalities before it becomes law. ably you can give people on the other side a little education — Orengo Although the joint committee members failed to reach a consensus on the amendments, Jubilee, which commands Senate majority, marshalled its troops to ensure the amendments sailed through. Jubilee senators rejected attempts by their Cord counterparts to have voting delayed after Leader of Minority Moses Wetang’ula demanded that Speaker Ekwee Ethuro rule on whether nominated senator Hosea Ochwangi should vote on behalf of Kisii Senator Chris Obure who had delegated his vote to him, yet he had also done the same earlier to Nominated Senator Janet Ong’era. Ethuro ruled that Ochwangi votes on behalf of Obure. Jubilee senators carried the day after 24 of them voted in support of the amendments as opposed to 19 ElECtiOns lAw disputE Jubilee introduced amendments to the law in the National Assembly to include a manual option of voter identification and relaying of results in the event of failure of the electronic system Cord and Opposition allies rejected the changes to the law, saying they were meant to facilitate rigging of the elections scheduled for August When the amended law was taken to the Senate, the House referred the matter to the Legal and Human Rights committee which held hearings to take into account the views of various individuals and interest groups from Cord, thus allowing the bill to proceed to the Third Reading. Minority version The decision of Jubilee senators came after the two joint committees, that of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, chaired by Busia senator Amos Wako and that of Information, Communication Technology chaired by Nyeri senator Mutahi Kagwe, were forced to prepare, and table before the House, a report. The split report had a minority version attached to it. Jubilee MPs who sit in the committee had agreed with the amendments that a manual backup system should be deployed by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should the electronic one fail. senators Mshenga Kisasa (left), Martha wangari (centre) and naisula lesuuda arrive for the special sitting to deliberate on the legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee report on the Amendment Bill on the elections law. PHOTO: SAMUEL KARIUKI Cord MPs had rejected the amendments and instead proposed the re-establishment of a Joint Select Committee like the one that was chaired by senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Kiraitu Murungi (Meru) on all matters relating to the IEBC to review the controversial matters and come up with a political settlement. According to the report of the joint committees, while 10 members from Jubilee supported the amendments passed by the National Assembly, six Cord senators opposed. The Cord senators who opposed the amendments were Wako, Hassan Omar (Mombasa), Mutula Kilonzo Jr (Makueni), Judith Sijeny (Nominated), Boy Juma Boy (Kwale) and Daisy Kanainza Nyongesa (Nominated) . Jubilee supporters were Kagwe, Stephen Sang (Nandi), Kembi Gitura (Murang’a), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Kiraitu Murungi (Meru), Fatuma Dullo (Nominated), Paul Ben Njoroge (Nominated), Isaac Melly (Uasin Gishu), Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) and Joy Gwendo (Nominated). Read the report: “The Committees could not reach a consensus on clause 18 and 19 of the Bill and took a vote by a majority of ten (10) against six (6).” Type of backup In the report, the committee said while there was a consensus that the use of technology in elections should be allowed, there is need to define the type of backup system that would be used noting that most stakeholders submissions supported the need for a backup system but differed on the nature of the backup. The outcome now appears to open doors for the threat by Cord leaders for mass protests. During the debate, Orengo warned the Jubilee administration of dire consequences if the Bill was passed. Orengo took the issue with Nominated Senator Beth Mugo, telling her “to advise her colleagues to tread carefully”. “I want to talk to my sister ‘Nyar Ugenya’ Beth Mugo. Probably you can give people on the other side a little education.” But Leader of Majority Kithure Kindiki and his deputy Murkomen maintained the backup system was only a complimentary mechanism. Kindiki said the provision only allows the electoral body to put in place a complementary system in case of failure of the electronic component. But Wetang’ula termed the clause “divisive, contentious and a hypocritical amendment to the law that is likely to cascade the country back to 2007/2008”, in reference to the post-election violence that rocked the country after the results of the 2007 presidential election were disputed. More tempers flared between the Cord and Jubilee as to whether the country requires a backup system. Nominated Senators Elizabeth Ong’oro and Martha Wangari clashed over a section of the Bill that proposes for a complementary mechanism during the electoral process. Sealed loopholes Ongoro said: “Now that they know that we are more conversant with the electronic system and that some loopholes have been sealed, they are trying to introduce another ambiguous system so as to steal the elections.” Wangari quickly interjected demanding she substantiates and withdraws her remarks. Friday, January 6, 2017 / people DAIlY Sikhs celebrate spiritual leader’s 350th birthday by Milliam Murigi @millymur1 Sikhs in Kenya yesterday joined the world in celebrating the 350th anniversary of the birth of their 10th spiritual leader, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Guru Gobind is described by the Sikhs as the greatest warrior who fought against brutal Mughals who at one time abducted and raped women and forced people to join Islam. “If it wasn’t for the sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his family, includ- ing his father Guru Teghbahadur and his sons, I am certain the map of India would not look the way it looks like today,” said Sonia Birdi, a Jubilee nominated Member of Parliament. Birdi (pictured centre) added that Guru Gobind fought terrorism and the worst form of oppression of its kind in 1699 AD. “I wish to inform the people of Kenya, that Sikhs are a courageous, kind and self-less community. And it is because of this nature that Guru Gobind’s birthday is being celebrated by other communities including Hindus and Muslims,” said Birdi. In his speech to mark the day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Guru Gobind Singh Ji was blessed with indomitable courage and tremendous knowledge and his bravery is etched in the heart and mind of every Indian. “The world must know he has in- spired so many people, said Modi, adding, “Guru Gobind Singh ji did not believe in any form of social discrimination and he treated everyone equally.”